The 'Fighting Irish' put down roots in an Irish forest.

 

Thanks to the great efforts of community, educationalist and social activist Nell Buckley, the American Notre Dame University has this month become part of the story of Terryland Forest Park. This renowned university from Indiana USA operates a Global Centre at Kylemore Abbey in Connemara for its American students who can attend courses at the University of Galway. As part of a Sustainability programme, Nell has connected the Notre Dame students with the Tuatha of Terryland Forest Park to provide opportunities for environmental, Irish heritage and biodiversity activities. We are delighted to assist these endeavours and are working at putting in place a programme for the new academic year commencing in September. 

 

To start 'the ball rolling', the American students were brought on a guided tour of the forest park along its new human and nature heritage trails as part of the Galway National Park City 'Outdoor Classroom' initiative which included aspects of traveller and rural farming culture. After the tour the students took part in a litter pick. 

 

There are several accounts of how this American university got its nickname the 'Fighting Irish'. From its beginnings Notre Dame (Our Lady) had strong connections to Ireland. The founders of this university in 1842 were Irish and French priests. Its connections with Ireland increased dramatically in the subsequent years. One theory is that the nickname came from one of its presidents Father William Corby who served as Union Army chaplain to the legendary Irish Brigade during the American Civil War. A statute of him was erected in 1910 on the site of the Battle of Gettysburg (the first to honour a non-general) in recognition of his bravery. The moniker became mainstream as a result of a violent confrontation in 1924 between Notre Dame students and the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) a white supremacist and anti-Catholic movement. The university's role as a high-profile Catholic educational institution made it a target in a country where anti-Catholicism still ran deep. To intimidate the Catholic and Irish-American students, the Klan came in large numbers for a week long gathering to the city of South Bend that lay just south of the university campus. The students in their hundreds took on the Klansmen stopping many of them getting off trains and tearing up their banners and flags. Faced with the hostility of the students, after a few days the Klan called off their 'Klavern' and left the city. It led to the end of this racist movement's presence in Indiana.

Rediscovering its Green Grassroots - Galway city's "Féile Padraig" !

Thanks to the vision and energies of this year's organiser Caroline McDonagh aided by artistic coordinator Jen Hesnan, the St. Patrick Day's Parade 2012 will have for the first time a distinctive eco-Green and Community ethos as well as an even stronger more flamboyant artistic dimension. 

It will also include an increased traditional Gaelic cultural presence as expressed in dance, music and story, an element which had almost disappeared from the event over the last decade. (See previous article here). This was so disappointing as it was like having a Brazilian Mardi Gras carnival without including Salsa.

This Celtic ambiance will wonderfully complement the cosmopolitan mix of multi-ethnic traditions that will also be participating which will give due recognition to the population diversity of modern Ireland. 

In advance of Saturday's parade, the stunning Notre Dame University Marching Band complete with their enthusiastic cheerleaders will be thrilling crowds in the city centre on Thursday March 15th. Known as 'The Fighting Irish', they are one of the very best football bands in the United States. 

 Over the last few months, Caroline has sent out the call  to neighbourhood, resident, youth, community and environmental groups to participate in Ireland's National Day of Celebration. 

The community of the Ballinfoile Mór locality has accepted her challenge and has four groups participating.
As well as having one the city's most colourful musical band on the parade, Scoil San Phroinsias will also feature the junior pupils dressed up as giant vegetables and fruits.

The fourth year students of Scoil Bhride Menlo will present a moving forest.

There will be a final meeting of volunteers at 7pm on Friday March 16th in the Cumann na bhFear premisses at Unit 1B in the Sandy Road Business Park to complete the floats and costumes for both the Ballinfoile Mór Community Organic Garden and the Cumann na bhFear (Men’s Shed Movement) for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  

Everyone is invited! It is important that supporters of both groups work together to ensure that we have a prominent role in these eco-community festivities .
Over the last year, the community-based activities of the garden and the Men’s Shed have served as role models for other neighborhoods and residents groups to emulate.

So let us continue to inspire others by having a good presence in the parade!

Hence, more than anything else, we need the maximum number of people marching in this parade. Imagine the sight of an army of urban gardeners dressed in straw hats armed with wheelbarrows, spades and rakes accompanied by a working Blacksmith's Forge (on a float), with locally-constructed bee hives and  repaired farm implements being carried along by the Men’s Shed group walking and cycling together through the streets of Galway being watched by tens of thousands of Galwegians and visitors as well as millions across the world!!

So we are asking all lovers of local communities and the environment to make every effort to attend tomorrow’ meeting. Bring along friends and family and pass the word around!

The more participation we get the better for all!